Booming days are here for California boaters

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy,

A national survey reported that boaters have higher levels of

satisfaction in marriage and romance than nonboaters. I love surveys

like this one, and I knew that I was in the boating profession for a

reason.

Boating participation continues to be on the rise, according to

the 2003 Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract recently released

by the National Marine Manufacturers Assn. Recreational boating had

72-million participants nationwide and California is expected to

increase between 13,337 to 23,092 boats per year over the next 20

years.

The future looks good for boating as the boating lifestyle is

reaching into more families for their recreational endeavors.

California is rated as third in the nation, based on 2003 boat

registrations, with 896,090 boats. Florida was second with 922,597

and Michigan continued to hold the top spot with 1,000,337 boats.

Interestingly, the tropical paradise of Hawaii, which you would

expect to be a boating mecca, is last with only 15,445 boats.

However, the huge impact from boating to the Newport Harbor area

is almost immeasurable, if one includes the contributory factors such

as lifestyle, bay front homes and high rent office locations.

I call it the Newport Harbor area because Newport Harbor boating

impacts a wider area than just Newport Beach. Neighboring cities have

ties to Newport Harbor and many boaters and those in the boating

industry are located in other cities.

We need to look at new creative means to keep the boating industry

in Newport and especially the marine businesses along the waterfront.

There are incentives to lure automobile dealerships into the area,

yet very little is being planned for the marine industry.

Recreational boating pumped approximately $30 billion into the

nation’s economy and outpaced the Gross Domestic Product in the same

period.

I contacted Matt Sabo with the Daily Press in Newport News, Va.,

after he wrote an article titled “Boating Brings Big Bucks To

Localities” on June 13 this year. He wrote how Hampton, Va.,

virtually eliminated the personal property tax on boats that resulted

in larger economic boost for the area.

“I think the cities recognized we’ve got this wonderful asset of

waterfront and let’s try to create as much economic spin-off as

possible,” Ross Mugler, the city commissioner of revenue said in the

article.

The story cited examples of boaters moving their boats to the area

and new marina construction, along with an increase in indirect

boater spending at restaurants, museums, hotels and golf courses that

are paying back to the city coffers more than the property tax alone.

I hear estimates of 9,000 to 12,000 boats that call Newport Beach

their homeport. There is a new mega yacht docked behind Josh Slocum’s

restaurant, and I envision an increase in mega yachts. However, for

the average boater, I would still like to know where I can launch a

trailer boat in the lower bay?

TIP OF THE WEEK

Let’s boat smart and be aware of your actions on the water.

Recently while I skippered a slowly cruising 98-foot vessel, I was

swarmed by electric rental boats whose passengers wanted to see the

bride aboard my boat. The major problem was that the rental boat

skippers would speed up to cross under my bow, or they would come so

close alongside that I would lose sight of their vessel from my

wheelhouse. Remember that the vessel I was skippering, even at four

knots, has a lot of momentum, and I have to plan ahead for any

maneuvers.

The bigger the boat, the a bigger margin it needs. Crossing under

a larger boat’s bow is a stupid maneuver. Rental boat operators need

to understand at least the basic boating rules, and especially common

courtesy while cruising the harbor.

Recognized as the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation,

“Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” airs every Saturday

from noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell

and Eric Hovland on my radio show by calling the listener line at

(888) 344-1170. Let me know of your boating news or information.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to mike@boathousetv.com or visit https://www.boathousetv.com.